Is Duncan Hines Cake Mix Vegan and Cruelty Free? The Floury Truth

May 2, 2023

Trying to figure out whether Duncan Hines Cake Mix is safe for vegans to consume can be challenging.

Boxed cake mix brands often hide their ingredients behind vague terms such as “natural flavors,” and even if they do provide a full list of ingredients, it can be hard to determine whether they’re vegan or not.

To ensure that you’re only consuming food that aligns with your vegan diet and lifestyle, I’ve investigated the ingredients and production process of Duncan Hines Cake Mixes.

Here’s what I found out.

Are Duncan Hines Cake Mixes Vegan?

No. Duncan Hines Cake Mixes are not vegan.

Duncan Hines Cake Mixes are not vegan because they contain refined sugar and mono- and diglycerides.

Sugar is technically vegan, but it is often processed with bone char, which is made from ground-up animal bones. This is used to filter and decolorize the sugar.

Mono-and diglycerides can be derived from plant or animal sources, but animal-sourced is much more common because it is much cheaper to produce.

These ingredients make it clear that Duncan Hines Cake Mixes are not suitable for vegan consumption.

Are Duncan Hines Cake Mixes Cruelty Free?

No. Duncan Hines boxed cake mixes are not cruelty free.

Duncan Hines Cake Mix is never tested on animals during the manufacturing process, nor does it contain ingredients that are routinely tested on animals, such as artificial colors.

Animal testing is a cruel and outmoded practice that frequently results in the disfigurement, misery, or death of innocent animals. There are many alternatives for colorings that do not involve animal testing, so there is no reason for any food brands to continue using them.

What Is Duncan Hines Cake Mix Made Of?

Here are the ingredients of Duncan Hines Classic White Cake Mix:

  • Enriched bleached flour (bleached wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid)
  • Sugar
  • Leavening (sodium bicarbonate, dicalcium phosphate, sodium aluminum phosphate, monocalcium phosphate)
  • Wheat starch
  • Canola oil
  • Modified cornstarch
  • Dextrose
  • Salt
  • Propylene glycol mono- and diesters
  • Mono-and diglycerides
  • Fractionated palm oil
  • Soy lecithin
  • Sodium stearoyl lactylate
  • Guar gum
  • Xanthan gum
  • Ascorbic acid
  • Natural and artificial flavor

Let’s break down each ingredient of Duncan Hines Classic White Cake Mix:

Bleached wheat flour

Bleached wheat flour is a type of wheat flour that has been bleached with chemicals. It is a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Niacin

Niacin is a type of vitamin B that is found in foods like meat, fish, eggs, and nuts. It is a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Reduced iron

Reduced iron is a type of iron that has been reduced in its oxygen content. It is a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Thiamine mononitrate

Thiamine mononitrate is a type of vitamin B that is found in foods like meat, fish, eggs, and nuts. It is a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Riboflavin

Riboflavin is a type of vitamin B that is found in foods like meat, fish, eggs, and nuts. It is a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Folic acid

Folic acid is a type of vitamin B that is found in foods like leafy green vegetables, legumes, and nuts. It is a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Sugar

Sugar is a simple carbohydrate that provides sweetness and flavor to food. It can be derived from sugarcane or sugar beets and is processed using animal bone char. It is not a vegan-friendly ingredient unless it is labeled “organic,” “raw,” or “unrefined.”

Sodium bicarbonate

Sodium bicarbonate, aka baking soda, is a type of salt that is often used as a leavening agent. It is a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Dicalcium phosphate

Dicalcium phosphate is a type of calcium salt that is often used as a leavening agent. It is a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Sodium aluminum phosphate

Sodium aluminum phosphate is a type of aluminum salt that is often used as a leavening agent. It is a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Monocalcium phosphate

Monocalcium phosphate is a type of calcium salt that is often used as a leavening agent. It is a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Wheat starch

Wheat starch is a type of starch that is derived from wheat. It is a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Canola oil

Canola oil is a type of vegetable oil that is made from the crushed seeds of the canola plant. It is a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Modified cornstarch

Modified cornstarch is a type of cornstarch that has been treated with chemicals. It is a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Dextrose

Dextrose is a type of sugar that is derived from cornstarch. It is a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Salt

Salt is a type of mineral that is used to add flavor and texture to food. It is a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Propylene glycol mono- and diesters

Propylene glycol mono-and diesters are a type of chemical used as an emulsifier. It is vegan.

Mono- and diglycerides

Mono- and diglycerides are a type of fat used as an emulsifier that can be sourced from plants or animals. However, the animal-sourced kind is much more common because it is cheaper. It is not a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Fractionated palm oil

Fractionated palm oil is a type of palm oil that has been treated with chemicals. It is a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Soy lecithin

Soy lecithin is a type of fat that is derived from soybeans. It is a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Sodium stearoyl lactylate

Sodium stearoyl lactylate is a type of salt that is used as an emulsifier. Sodium stearoyl lactylate is vegan.

Guar gum

Guar gum is a type of fiber that is derived from the guar bean. It is a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Xanthan gum

Xanthan gum is a type of fiber that is derived from corn. It is a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Ascorbic acid

Ascorbic acid is a type of vitamin C that is found in foods like citrus fruits, tomatoes, and potatoes. It is a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Natural and artificial flavor

Natural and artificial flavors are chemicals that are used to add flavor to food. The source of natural and artificial flavors could be animal derived or plant derived.

Why Isn’t Duncan Hines Cake Mix Vegan?

Duncan Hines box cake mix is not vegan because it contains refined sugar and mono- and diglycerides. These ingredients are sourced from or processed with animal products or by-products, making Duncan Hines Cake Mix non-vegan.

Is Duncan Hines Classic Dark Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix Vegan?

No. Duncan Hines Classic Dark Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix is not vegan. It contains refined sugar and mono- and diglycerides.

Duncan Hines Classic Dark Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix is not safe for vegan consumption.

Is Duncan Hines Classic Butter Golden Cake Mix Vegan?

No. Duncan Hines Classic Butter Golden Mix is not vegan. It contains refined sugar and mono- and diglycerides.

Duncan Hines Classic Butter Golden Cake Mix is not safe for vegan consumption.

Is Duncan Hines Classic Devil’s Food Cake Mix Vegan?

No. Duncan Hines Classic Devil’s Food Cake Mix is not vegan. It contains refined sugar and mono- and diglycerides.

Duncan Hines Classic Devil’s Food Cake Mix is not safe for vegan consumption.

Is Duncan Hines Joyfetti Confetti Cake Mix Vegan?

No. Duncan Hines Joyfetti Confetti Cake Mix is not vegan. It contains refined sugar and mono- and diglycerides.

Duncan Hines Joyfetti Confetti Cake Mix is not safe for vegan consumption.

Is Duncan Hines Signature Pineapple Cake Mix Vegan?

No. Duncan Hines Signature Pineapple Cake Mix is not vegan. It contains refined sugar and mono- and diglycerides.

Duncan Hines Signature Pineapple Cake Mix is not safe for vegan consumption.

What About Other Boxed Cake Mixes?

Besides Duncan Hines Cake Mixes, there are other brands, like Betty Crocker and Pillsbury, that make cake mixes. But are any of these boxed cake mix products vegan?

Are Pillsbury Cake Mixes Vegan?

No. Pillsbury Cake Mixes contain mono- and diglycerides.

Pillsbury Cake Mixes are not suitable for vegans.

Are Betty Crocker Cake Mixes Vegan?

No. Betty Crocker Cake Mixes contain refined sugar and mono- and diglycerides.

Betty Crocker Cake Mixes are not suitable for vegans.

Vegan Alternatives to Duncan Hines Box Cake Mix

If you enjoy making cakes but want to stick to your vegan ethics and lifestyle, there are numerous vegan cake mix brands available on the market that are as good as regular boxed cake mixes from Duncan Hines and others. Here are some of my favorites:

All of these boxed cake mix brands are delicious and vegan! These brands will let you enjoy and bake a perfect cake without any guilt.

Final Words

So there you have it! The answer to the question “Is Duncan Hines Cake Mix Vegan?” is no. Duncan Hines Cake Mix contains non-vegan refined sugar and mono- and diglycerides, which are sourced from or processed with animal sources.

However, there are many delicious vegan cake mix brands available on the market that are just as good as Duncan Hines Cake Mix, if not better. So if you want to enjoy a delicious cake without compromising your vegan ethics, be sure to check out one of the vegan cake mix brands I listed above. Go grab some vegan cake mixes and bake a vegan cake today!